TOPEKA—On Monday, the GOP Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council approved $460,000 to fund a four-day special legislative session focused on redistricting the state of Kansas, without holding any public forum, according to a media release from Kansas House Democrats.

Missouri and Texas have already approved new maps.

Republicans already hold three of the state’s four congressional districts. A revised map would target the suburban Kansas City district held by Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids.

"Without any public input, the GOP-led Legislature Coordinating Council just approved spending Kansas taxpayers' money to call a special session to redistrict Kansas at the whim of Donald Trump," according to a statement from House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard.&nbsp;

"This is a slap in the face to Kansans who are struggling with rising costs of living and out-of-control property taxes, issues the Legislature should be addressing instead," according to Woodard.

The cost of the special session would cost less than the approved $460,000 if the session lasts less than four days. The session could begin as early as November 7.&nbsp;Republican lawmakers who hold a supermajority in the Kansas Legislature have been gathering petition signatures from colleagues in an attempt to call a special session on congressional redistricting.&nbsp; They are taking that route because Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is unlikely to call a special session.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643147273216.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA—On Monday, the GOP Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council approved $460,000 to fund a four-day special legislative session focused on redistricting the state of Kansas, without holding any public forum, according to a media release from Kansas House Democrats.Missouri and Texas have already approved new maps.Republicans already hold three of the state’s four congressional districts. A revised map would target the suburban Kansas City district held by Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids."Without any public input, the GOP-led Legislature Coordinating Council just approved spending Kansas taxpayers' money to call a special session to redistrict Kansas at the whim of Donald Trump," according to a statement from House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard.&nbsp;"This is a slap in the face to Kansans who are struggling with rising costs of living and out-of-control property taxes, issues the Legislature should be addressing instead," according to Woodard.The cost of the special session would cost less than the approved $460,000 if the session lasts less than four days. The session could begin as early as November 7.&nbsp;Republican lawmakers who hold a supermajority in the Kansas Legislature have been gathering petition signatures from colleagues in an attempt to call a special session on congressional redistricting.&nbsp; They are taking that route because Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is unlikely to call a special session.-The AP contributed to this report.

Kansas lawmakers approve funding for redistricting session

KANSAS CITY —A Missouri man is set to be executed on Tuesday for fatally shooting a state trooper more than 20 years ago.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-98b9be3f3c3c4d408f907ba61c9897d3">Lance Shockley</a>&nbsp;was condemned for killing Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. in March 2005. Prosecutors say Shockley waited for hours near the trooper’s Van Buren home in southeast Missouri before shooting him with a rifle and shotgun after Graham exited his patrol vehicle.

Shockley, 48, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection after 6 p.m. local time at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

His is one of two executions scheduled for Tuesday evening in the U.S. In Florida, Samuel Lee Smithers, 72,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-execution-samuel-lee-smithers-cf17079bd1228ab58f7ee61de81924a0">is set to receive a lethal injection</a>&nbsp;for killing two women whose bodies were found in a rural pond in 1996.

GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe on Monday turned down Shockley’s request for clemency.

“Violence against those who risk their lives every day to protect our communities will never be tolerated. Missouri stands firmly with our men and women in uniform,” Kehoe said in a statement.

Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court denied a request to stay Shockley’s execution until a lower state appeals court issues a ruling on a petition by Shockley’s attorneys asking for DNA testing of evidence found at the scene. Jeremy Weis, one of Shockley’s attorneys, said Monday it’s unlikely the lower appeals court will issue a ruling on the DNA testing request before Tuesday’s execution. Shockley’s lawyers say much of this evidence has never been tested and could help exonerate Shockley.

“Even a small chance of exoneration is enough to warrant testing,” Shockley’s lawyers said in court documents.

Shockley’s attorneys have also argued his First Amendment rights are being violated since the Missouri Department of Corrections prohibited his daughter from being his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-state-government-missouri-legal-proceedings-religion-dbc253bef85af688a63a42a836e00028">spiritual adviser</a>&nbsp;during the execution. His attorneys also referenced this claim when asking a federal appeals court to stay his execution. In March 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-executions-john-roberts-fcd32356dbb867063d324d7d33d6a21f">U.S. Supreme Court ruled</a>&nbsp;states must allow spiritual advisers to join condemned inmates in the death chamber.

Missouri officials have argued state prison policy prevents family members from having direct contact with inmates during an execution due to security concerns they might interfere with the process.

Authorities said Shockley shot Graham because the state trooper was investigating him for involuntary manslaughter after leaving the scene of a deadly accident in which Shockley’s best friend was killed. Prosecutors said Shockley borrowed his grandmother’s red Pontiac Grand Am, which was seen near Graham’s home on the day of the killing.

Shockley first shot Graham with a rifle, severing his spinal cord and causing him to fall to the ground and fracture his skull, according to prosecutors. Shockley then approached Graham and shot him in the face and shoulder with a shotgun. Shockley owned a .243-caliber rifle and .243-caliber rounds were recovered from Graham’s body. Bullet fragments found on the property of Shockley’s uncle matched the rounds recovered from the trooper’s body, according to court documents filed by the Missouri attorney general’s office.

Prosecutors presented no direct evidence connecting Shockley to the killing, Weis said.

“The state’s case remained circumstantial,” Weis said last week during a forum at the University of Missouri School of Law discussing the case. “The murder weapons were never found. There were disagreements between the ballistics experts hired by the prosecution.”

Shockley’s attorneys also say other witnesses placed his client about 14 miles (23 kilometers) away from Graham’s home at the time the prosecutors maintained he was lying in wait near the trooper’s house.

Prosecutors say Shockley had inquired about where Graham lived before the murder and tried to get rid of a box of .243-caliber ammunition around the time of the murder, according to court documents.

Prosecutors said that favorable DNA test results, “even if obtained, would not tend to undermine Shockley’s conviction.”

If the execution is carried out, Shockley would be the first person put to death this year in Missouri. The last execution in the state was on Dec. 3, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-christopher-collings-f5a027c86c53725556a5a66751abd36d">Christopher Collings</a>&nbsp;received a lethal injection for sexually assaulting and killing a 9-year-old girl.

If both of Tuesday’s executions take place, that would bring this year’s total to 37&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-executions-2025-upcoming-florida-bf95609117487f4295d0b41e1b268c4a">death sentences</a>&nbsp;carried out nationwide.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750874127475.png" alt="Shockley photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Shockley photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Missouri man is set to be executed on Tuesday for fatally shooting a state trooper more than 20 years ago.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-98b9be3f3c3c4d408f907ba61c9897d3">Lance Shockley</a>&nbsp;was condemned for killing Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. in March 2005. Prosecutors say Shockley waited for hours near the trooper’s Van Buren home in southeast Missouri before shooting him with a rifle and shotgun after Graham exited his patrol vehicle.Shockley, 48, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection after 6 p.m. local time at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri.His is one of two executions scheduled for Tuesday evening in the U.S. In Florida, Samuel Lee Smithers, 72,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-execution-samuel-lee-smithers-cf17079bd1228ab58f7ee61de81924a0">is set to receive a lethal injection</a>&nbsp;for killing two women whose bodies were found in a rural pond in 1996.GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe on Monday turned down Shockley’s request for clemency.“Violence against those who risk their lives every day to protect our communities will never be tolerated. Missouri stands firmly with our men and women in uniform,” Kehoe said in a statement.Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court denied a request to stay Shockley’s execution until a lower state appeals court issues a ruling on a petition by Shockley’s attorneys asking for DNA testing of evidence found at the scene. Jeremy Weis, one of Shockley’s attorneys, said Monday it’s unlikely the lower appeals court will issue a ruling on the DNA testing request before Tuesday’s execution. Shockley’s lawyers say much of this evidence has never been tested and could help exonerate Shockley.“Even a small chance of exoneration is enough to warrant testing,” Shockley’s lawyers said in court documents.Shockley’s attorneys have also argued his First Amendment rights are being violated since the Missouri Department of Corrections prohibited his daughter from being his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-state-government-missouri-legal-proceedings-religion-dbc253bef85af688a63a42a836e00028">spiritual adviser</a>&nbsp;during the execution. His attorneys also referenced this claim when asking a federal appeals court to stay his execution. In March 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-executions-john-roberts-fcd32356dbb867063d324d7d33d6a21f">U.S. Supreme Court ruled</a>&nbsp;states must allow spiritual advisers to join condemned inmates in the death chamber.Missouri officials have argued state prison policy prevents family members from having direct contact with inmates during an execution due to security concerns they might interfere with the process.Authorities said Shockley shot Graham because the state trooper was investigating him for involuntary manslaughter after leaving the scene of a deadly accident in which Shockley’s best friend was killed. Prosecutors said Shockley borrowed his grandmother’s red Pontiac Grand Am, which was seen near Graham’s home on the day of the killing.Shockley first shot Graham with a rifle, severing his spinal cord and causing him to fall to the ground and fracture his skull, according to prosecutors. Shockley then approached Graham and shot him in the face and shoulder with a shotgun. Shockley owned a .243-caliber rifle and .243-caliber rounds were recovered from Graham’s body. Bullet fragments found on the property of Shockley’s uncle matched the rounds recovered from the trooper’s body, according to court documents filed by the Missouri attorney general’s office.Prosecutors presented no direct evidence connecting Shockley to the killing, Weis said.“The state’s case remained circumstantial,” Weis said last week during a forum at the University of Missouri School of Law discussing the case. “The murder weapons were never found. There were disagreements between the ballistics experts hired by the prosecution.”Shockley’s attorneys also say other witnesses placed his client about 14 miles (23 kilometers) away from Graham’s home at the time the prosecutors maintained he was lying in wait near the trooper’s house.Prosecutors say Shockley had inquired about where Graham lived before the murder and tried to get rid of a box of .243-caliber ammunition around the time of the murder, according to court documents.Prosecutors said that favorable DNA test results, “even if obtained, would not tend to undermine Shockley’s conviction.”If the execution is carried out, Shockley would be the first person put to death this year in Missouri. The last execution in the state was on Dec. 3, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-christopher-collings-f5a027c86c53725556a5a66751abd36d">Christopher Collings</a>&nbsp;received a lethal injection for sexually assaulting and killing a 9-year-old girl.If both of Tuesday’s executions take place, that would bring this year’s total to 37&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-executions-2025-upcoming-florida-bf95609117487f4295d0b41e1b268c4a">death sentences</a>&nbsp;carried out nationwide.___

Man who maintains innocence set to be executed for killing state trooper

HARVEY COUNTY — A Kansas felon with over a dozen previous convictions is going back to prison.

Earlier this month, Senior Judge Nancy Parrish sentenced a Matthew Ratzlaff, 38, of Burrton, Kansas to 301 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; In August he pled guilty to Kidnapping and two counts of Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child involving sexual crimes against a child under the age of 10, according to a media release from the Harvey County Attorney.

In addition to the time served in the Kansas Department of Corrections, Ratzlaff will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and lifetime registration as a sexual offender.&nbsp; He has 17 previous convictions for burglary, aggravated burglary, theft, giving worthless checks, forgery and criminal use of a financial card, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Sex crimes committed against children in our community are some of the most terrible crimes we see committed and my office is dedicated to holding the offenders accountable while achieving justice for the most vulnerable members of our community.

The successful prosecution of this case was made possible with the dedicated assistance of the Halstead Police Department, USD 440, and the Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760381195475.png" alt="Ratzlaff-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Ratzlaff-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY — A Kansas felon with over a dozen previous convictions is going back to prison.Earlier this month, Senior Judge Nancy Parrish sentenced a Matthew Ratzlaff, 38, of Burrton, Kansas to 301 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; In August he pled guilty to Kidnapping and two counts of Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child involving sexual crimes against a child under the age of 10, according to a media release from the Harvey County Attorney.In addition to the time served in the Kansas Department of Corrections, Ratzlaff will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and lifetime registration as a sexual offender.&nbsp; He has 17 previous convictions for burglary, aggravated burglary, theft, giving worthless checks, forgery and criminal use of a financial card, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.Sex crimes committed against children in our community are some of the most terrible crimes we see committed and my office is dedicated to holding the offenders accountable while achieving justice for the most vulnerable members of our community.The successful prosecution of this case was made possible with the dedicated assistance of the Halstead Police Department, USD 440, and the Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center.

Kan. man with over a dozen convictions going to prison for child sex crimes

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ali-swenson">ALI SWENSON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of federal employees working on mental health services, disease outbreaks and disaster preparedness were among those hit by the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">mass firings</a>&nbsp;over the weekend, current and laid-off workers said Monday, as the administration aimed to pressure Democratic lawmakers to give in and end the nearly two-week-long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-obamacare-republicans-democrats-b6b59cae2ec28b39e57fbb703704f46a">government shutdown</a>.

The government-wide reduction-in-force initiative that began Friday roiled the massive U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just six months after it went through an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-ec4d7731695e4204970c7eab953b2289">earlier round of cuts</a>&nbsp;and as many staffers already were disconnected from work because of the shutdown.

The situation turned even more chaotic over the weekend, when more than half of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees who’d gotten layoff notices learned they received them in error and were still employed with the agency.

HHS, through its agencies, is responsible for tracking health trends and disease outbreaks, conducting and funding medical research, and monitoring the safety of food and medicine, as well as for administering health insurance programs for nearly half the country. Among the HHS agencies facing staff cuts were the CDC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, or ASPR, according to current and laid-off employees who spoke with The Associated Press.

Former staffers and health professionals said they were concerned the layoffs could have negative health impacts and make it difficult for HHS agencies to fulfill their obligations set by Congress.

Government shutdownThe AP has journalists around the country covering the shutdown of the federal government.&nbsp;<a href="https://modules.wearehearken.com/associated-press/embed/12545/share" target="_blank">What questions do you have for them?</a>

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said the laid off employees were deemed nonessential. He added the agency is working to “close wasteful and duplicative entities, including those that are at odds with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda.”

Nixon declined to share which HHS agencies saw layoffs or how many HHS employees were affected. However, a Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71502325/39/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-united-states/" target="_blank">court filing</a>&nbsp;from the Trump administration gave an estimate, saying about 1,100 to 1,200 of the nearly 80,000 staffers at HHS were receiving dismissal notices.

CDC is hit with layoffs — and reversals

About 600 workers at the CDC remained fired Monday in conjunction with the federal government shutdown after hundreds more had originally been targeted, according to the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2883, which represents CDC employees in Atlanta.

Of more than 1,300 CDC employees who received reduction-in-force notices Friday, about 700 later received emails revoking their terminations, the union said.

The AFGE Local 2883 called the action a “politically-motivated stunt” to illegally fire agency workers.

“These reckless actions are disrupting and destroying the lives of everyday working people, who are constantly being used as bargaining chips,” AFGE President Yolanda Jacobs said in a statement Monday.

A federal health official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media said the incorrect RIF notices resulted from a glitch in the system.

Among those targeted for dismissal and then reinstated were the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service officers, the “disease detectives” who are deployed to respond to outbreaks that threaten public health, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, former principal deputy director of the CDC, who said she was in touch with EIS officers in that situation.

“These are people who go into really scary places,” Schuchat said. “Usually you think it’s nature that’s going to be giving you a hard time, the viruses, not the government.”

Mental health services cut in sweeping dismissals at agency

SAMHSA, an agency within HHS devoted to addressing mental illness and addiction, also saw cuts, according to two employees of the agency with knowledge of the layoffs who weren’t authorized to speak publicly.

While the full scope of the firings wasn’t clear, some of the departments affected included the agency’s Office of Communications and the Center for Mental Health Services, where dozens were let go from multiple areas, according to one of the employees.

Within CMHS, one of two branches that oversaw millions of dollars in grants for community health clinics was mostly terminated, the employees said.

Dakota Jablon, a public health analyst and former employee of SAMHSA, said the loss of more staff at SAMHSA, primarily a grantmaking agency, would have “devastating ripple effects across the behavioral health field.”

“Even if the grants continue, the loss of experienced staff means those who remain will be stretched far too thin, often outside their areas of expertise,” she said.

Dr. Eric Rafla-Yuan, a psychiatrist and the chair of the Committee to Protect Public Mental Health, said staff cuts at SAMHSA could put state safety nets for people with mental illness at risk, because the agency provides significant funding and support to state programs.

Latest layoffs build on earlier cuts as HHS looks to restructure

The mass layoffs come six months after thousands of researchers, scientists, doctors, support staff and senior leaders were either&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-ec4d7731695e4204970c7eab953b2289">laid off from HHS</a>&nbsp;or took early retirement or volunteer separation offers.

The department’s staff was listed at just under 80,000 employees in a contingency plan before the government shutdown began, down more than 2,000 from its staffing level earlier in the year.

The cuts are part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s sweeping effort to remake the department by consolidating agencies that oversee billions of dollars for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hhs-addiction-mental-health-rfk-samsha-e83db20b4ef801971cd25d07eb41bcf9">addiction services</a>&nbsp;and community health centers under a new office called the Administration for a Healthy America. The plan has been delayed amid ongoing legislation and congressional pushback.

Aleccia reported from Southern California. AP medical writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691086285875.jpeg" alt="Photo Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom" />
 <figcaption>Photo Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ali-swenson">ALI SWENSON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of federal employees working on mental health services, disease outbreaks and disaster preparedness were among those hit by the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">mass firings</a>&nbsp;over the weekend, current and laid-off workers said Monday, as the administration aimed to pressure Democratic lawmakers to give in and end the nearly two-week-long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-obamacare-republicans-democrats-b6b59cae2ec28b39e57fbb703704f46a">government shutdown</a>.The government-wide reduction-in-force initiative that began Friday roiled the massive U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just six months after it went through an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-ec4d7731695e4204970c7eab953b2289">earlier round of cuts</a>&nbsp;and as many staffers already were disconnected from work because of the shutdown.The situation turned even more chaotic over the weekend, when more than half of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees who’d gotten layoff notices learned they received them in error and were still employed with the agency.HHS, through its agencies, is responsible for tracking health trends and disease outbreaks, conducting and funding medical research, and monitoring the safety of food and medicine, as well as for administering health insurance programs for nearly half the country. Among the HHS agencies facing staff cuts were the CDC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, or ASPR, according to current and laid-off employees who spoke with The Associated Press.Former staffers and health professionals said they were concerned the layoffs could have negative health impacts and make it difficult for HHS agencies to fulfill their obligations set by Congress.Government shutdownThe AP has journalists around the country covering the shutdown of the federal government.&nbsp;<a href="https://modules.wearehearken.com/associated-press/embed/12545/share" target="_blank">What questions do you have for them?</a>HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said the laid off employees were deemed nonessential. He added the agency is working to “close wasteful and duplicative entities, including those that are at odds with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda.”Nixon declined to share which HHS agencies saw layoffs or how many HHS employees were affected. However, a Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71502325/39/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-united-states/" target="_blank">court filing</a>&nbsp;from the Trump administration gave an estimate, saying about 1,100 to 1,200 of the nearly 80,000 staffers at HHS were receiving dismissal notices.<h2>CDC is hit with layoffs — and reversals</h2>About 600 workers at the CDC remained fired Monday in conjunction with the federal government shutdown after hundreds more had originally been targeted, according to the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2883, which represents CDC employees in Atlanta.Of more than 1,300 CDC employees who received reduction-in-force notices Friday, about 700 later received emails revoking their terminations, the union said.The AFGE Local 2883 called the action a “politically-motivated stunt” to illegally fire agency workers.“These reckless actions are disrupting and destroying the lives of everyday working people, who are constantly being used as bargaining chips,” AFGE President Yolanda Jacobs said in a statement Monday.A federal health official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media said the incorrect RIF notices resulted from a glitch in the system.Among those targeted for dismissal and then reinstated were the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service officers, the “disease detectives” who are deployed to respond to outbreaks that threaten public health, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, former principal deputy director of the CDC, who said she was in touch with EIS officers in that situation.“These are people who go into really scary places,” Schuchat said. “Usually you think it’s nature that’s going to be giving you a hard time, the viruses, not the government.”<h2>Mental health services cut in sweeping dismissals at agency</h2>SAMHSA, an agency within HHS devoted to addressing mental illness and addiction, also saw cuts, according to two employees of the agency with knowledge of the layoffs who weren’t authorized to speak publicly.While the full scope of the firings wasn’t clear, some of the departments affected included the agency’s Office of Communications and the Center for Mental Health Services, where dozens were let go from multiple areas, according to one of the employees.Within CMHS, one of two branches that oversaw millions of dollars in grants for community health clinics was mostly terminated, the employees said.Dakota Jablon, a public health analyst and former employee of SAMHSA, said the loss of more staff at SAMHSA, primarily a grantmaking agency, would have “devastating ripple effects across the behavioral health field.”“Even if the grants continue, the loss of experienced staff means those who remain will be stretched far too thin, often outside their areas of expertise,” she said.Dr. Eric Rafla-Yuan, a psychiatrist and the chair of the Committee to Protect Public Mental Health, said staff cuts at SAMHSA could put state safety nets for people with mental illness at risk, because the agency provides significant funding and support to state programs.<h2>Latest layoffs build on earlier cuts as HHS looks to restructure</h2>The mass layoffs come six months after thousands of researchers, scientists, doctors, support staff and senior leaders were either&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-ec4d7731695e4204970c7eab953b2289">laid off from HHS</a>&nbsp;or took early retirement or volunteer separation offers.The department’s staff was listed at just under 80,000 employees in a contingency plan before the government shutdown began, down more than 2,000 from its staffing level earlier in the year.The cuts are part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s sweeping effort to remake the department by consolidating agencies that oversee billions of dollars for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hhs-addiction-mental-health-rfk-samsha-e83db20b4ef801971cd25d07eb41bcf9">addiction services</a>&nbsp;and community health centers under a new office called the Administration for a Healthy America. The plan has been delayed amid ongoing legislation and congressional pushback.—Aleccia reported from Southern California. AP medical writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report.

New details on the federal employees in weekend firings

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a 2-vehicle crash that injured a juvenile.

At approximately 6 p.m. on Monday, emergency crews responded to an injury crash on Lee Boulevard just north of W 103rd Street, according to a media release from Leawood Police.

 The crash involved a vehicle and a juvenile on an electric scooter. EMS transported the juvenile to an area hospital in critical condition. The Leawood Police Department Major Crash Investigation Unit is investigating the crash. Lee Boulevard was closed north of W 103rd St while the investigation was underway.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

 Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is requested to contact the Leawood Police Department at 913-642-7700.

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a 2-vehicle crash that injured a juvenile.At approximately 6 p.m. on Monday, emergency crews responded to an injury crash on Lee Boulevard just north of W 103rd Street, according to a media release from Leawood Police. The crash involved a vehicle and a juvenile on an electric scooter. EMS transported the juvenile to an area hospital in critical condition. The Leawood Police Department Major Crash Investigation Unit is investigating the crash. Lee Boulevard was closed north of W 103rd St while the investigation was underway.&nbsp; Police released no additional details. Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is requested to contact the Leawood Police Department at 913-642-7700.

Police: Juvenile hospitalized after car, electric scooter crash

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal 2-vehicle crash and have made an arrest.

Just before 5:30p.m. Oct. 10, police were dispatched to an injury accident at the intersection of 9th&nbsp;and Kansas in Great Bend, according to a media release.

Investigators determined a&nbsp;2018 Suzuki GSX-R750 driven by 25-year-old Nathaniel Larkin was southbound in the 900 Block of Kansas Avenue and struck a westbound 2015 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp;&nbsp;51-year-old Oscar Munoz. 

Great Bend EMS transported&nbsp; Larkin to the hospital in Great Bend where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

Munoz was arrested on requested charges of involuntary manslaughter, DUI and No Driver’s License.&nbsp; Munoz is being held on a $100,000.00 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760393491422.png" alt="Munoz -photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Munoz -photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal 2-vehicle crash and have made an arrest.Just before 5:30p.m. Oct. 10, police were dispatched to an injury accident at the intersection of 9th&nbsp;and Kansas in Great Bend, according to a media release.Investigators determined a&nbsp;2018 Suzuki GSX-R750 driven by 25-year-old Nathaniel Larkin was southbound in the 900 Block of Kansas Avenue and struck a westbound 2015 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp;&nbsp;51-year-old Oscar Munoz. Great Bend EMS transported&nbsp; Larkin to the hospital in Great Bend where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Munoz was arrested on requested charges of involuntary manslaughter, DUI and No Driver’s License.&nbsp; Munoz is being held on a $100,000.00 bond.&nbsp;

Kansas man jailed for alledged DUI in fatal 2-vehicle crash

By MARCIA DUNN &nbsp;AP Aerospace Writer

SpaceX launched another of its mammoth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-starbase-488416a6085cc64d8288d0a025602f28">Starship rockets</a>&nbsp;on a test flight Monday, successfully making it halfway around the world while releasing mock satellites like last time.

Starship — the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-moon-mars-5f02ab8e4b794e518fe99905adaa7471">biggest and most powerful rocket</a>&nbsp;ever built — thundered into the evening sky from the southern tip of Texas. The booster peeled away and made a controlled entry into the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the spacecraft skimming space before descending into the Indian Ocean. Nothing was recovered.

“Hey, welcome back to Earth, Starship,” SpaceX's Dan Huot announced as employees cheered. “What a day.”

It was the 11th test flight for a full-scale Starship, which SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk intends to use to send people to Mars. NASA’s need is more immediate. The space agency cannot land astronauts on the moon by decade's end without the 403-foot (123-meter) Starship, the reusable vehicle meant to get them from lunar orbit down to the surface and back up.

Instead of remaining inside Launch Control as usual, Musk said that for the first time he was going outside to watch — “much more visceral.”

The previous test flight in August — a success after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-moon-mars-5f02ab8e4b794e518fe99905adaa7471">a string of explosive failures</a>&nbsp;— followed a similar path with similar goals. More maneuvering was built in this time, especially for the spacecraft. SpaceX conducted a series of tests during the spacecraft's entry over the Indian Ocean as practice for future landings back at the launch site.

Like before, Starship carried up eight mock satellites mimicking SpaceX’s Starlinks. The entire flight lasted just over an hour, originating from Starbase near the Mexican border.

NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy praised Starship’s progress. “Another major step toward landing Americans on the moon’s south pole,” he said via X.

SpaceX is modifying its Cape Canaveral launch sites to accommodate Starships, in addition to the much smaller Falcon rockets used to transport astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station for NASA.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By MARCIA DUNN &nbsp;AP Aerospace WriterSpaceX launched another of its mammoth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-starbase-488416a6085cc64d8288d0a025602f28">Starship rockets</a>&nbsp;on a test flight Monday, successfully making it halfway around the world while releasing mock satellites like last time.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Liftoff of Starship! <a href="https://t.co/sbfmGAEPa6">pic.twitter.com/sbfmGAEPa6</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1977878290489643190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Starship — the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-moon-mars-5f02ab8e4b794e518fe99905adaa7471">biggest and most powerful rocket</a>&nbsp;ever built — thundered into the evening sky from the southern tip of Texas. The booster peeled away and made a controlled entry into the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the spacecraft skimming space before descending into the Indian Ocean. Nothing was recovered.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Starship’s Raptor engines ignite during hot-staging separation. Super Heavy is boosting back towards its splashdown site and preparing for its landing burn experiment <a href="https://t.co/oCy90IFitO">pic.twitter.com/oCy90IFitO</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1977879026489548943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Super Heavy has splashed down in the Gulf of America, gathering data for the next generation booster <a href="https://t.co/o72ciKBZYm">pic.twitter.com/o72ciKBZYm</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1977880014348759495?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting eleventh flight test of Starship! <a href="https://t.co/llcIvNZFfg">pic.twitter.com/llcIvNZFfg</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1977895039318864296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Hey, welcome back to Earth, Starship,” SpaceX's Dan Huot announced as employees cheered. “What a day.”It was the 11th test flight for a full-scale Starship, which SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk intends to use to send people to Mars. NASA’s need is more immediate. The space agency cannot land astronauts on the moon by decade's end without the 403-foot (123-meter) Starship, the reusable vehicle meant to get them from lunar orbit down to the surface and back up.Instead of remaining inside Launch Control as usual, Musk said that for the first time he was going outside to watch — “much more visceral.”The previous test flight in August — a success after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-moon-mars-5f02ab8e4b794e518fe99905adaa7471">a string of explosive failures</a>&nbsp;— followed a similar path with similar goals. More maneuvering was built in this time, especially for the spacecraft. SpaceX conducted a series of tests during the spacecraft's entry over the Indian Ocean as practice for future landings back at the launch site.Like before, Starship carried up eight mock satellites mimicking SpaceX’s Starlinks. The entire flight lasted just over an hour, originating from Starbase near the Mexican border.NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy praised Starship’s progress. “Another major step toward landing Americans on the moon’s south pole,” he said via X.SpaceX is modifying its Cape Canaveral launch sites to accommodate Starships, in addition to the much smaller Falcon rockets used to transport astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station for NASA.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

🎥SpaceX launches 11th test flight of its mega Starship rocket with another win

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations and have him in custody for the second time in just over a month.

Just before 8:30p.m. Saturday an officer on patrol observed 54-year-old Dwight Downing in the 600 block South 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; The officer took&nbsp;him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. During the arrest Downing was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.

In August,&nbsp; police conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block U.S.59 in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Downing, was arrested on outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court. During his arrest he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, according to Wilson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754320137120.png" alt="Downing photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Downing photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations and have him in custody for the second time in just over a month.Just before 8:30p.m. Saturday an officer on patrol observed 54-year-old Dwight Downing in the 600 block South 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; The officer took&nbsp;him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. During the arrest Downing was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.In August,&nbsp; police conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block U.S.59 in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Downing, was arrested on outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court. During his arrest he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, according to Wilson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. man accused again of skipping court, drug possession

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called for a new era of harmony in the Middle East on Monday during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-egypt-gaza-war-bb2d95ea815ef6a4a2771c46b73f1e11">a global summit on Gaza's future</a>, trying to advance broader peace in the region after visiting Israel to celebrate a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us," Trump said, and he urged leaders “to declare that our future will not be ruled by the fights of generations past.”

The whirlwind trip, which included the summit in Egypt and a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem earlier in the day, comes at a fragile moment of hope for ending two years of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war between Israel and Hamas</a>.

“Everybody said it's not possible to do. And it's going to happen. And it is happening before your very eyes," Trump said alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.

Nearly three dozen countries, including some from Europe and the Middle East, were represented at the summit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited but declined, with his office saying it was too close to a Jewish holiday.

Trump, el-Sissi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a document that Trump said would lay the groundwork for Gaza's future. However, a copy was not made public.

Despite unanswered questions about next steps in the Palestinian enclave, which has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-drone-footage-destruction-ceasefire-4a03097279002889573791ecd0112df8">devastated during the conflict</a>, Trump is determined to seize an opportunity to chase an elusive regional harmony.

He expressed a similar sense of finality about the Israel-Hamas war in his speech at the Knesset, which welcomed him as a hero.

“You’ve won,” he told Israeli lawmakers. “Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”

Trump promised to help rebuild Gaza, and he urged Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence.”

“After tremendous pain and death and hardship," he said, "now is the time to concentrate on building their people up instead of trying to tear Israel down.”

Trump even made a gesture to Iran, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fordo-us-strike-trump-israel-nuclear-sites-320a85327f94ed7496f09564261f3148">he bombed three nuclear sites</a>&nbsp;during the country's brief war with Israel earlier this year, by saying “the hand of friendship and cooperation is always open.”

Trump arrived in Egypt hours late because speeches at the Knesset continued longer than expected.

"They might not be there by the time I get there, but we’ll give it a shot," Trump joked after needling Israeli leaders for talking so much.

Twenty hostages were released Monday as part of an agreement intended to end the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-hostages-2-years-10-07-2025-6f19cb2eee5e05091c74f0e6f1bc356a">an attack by Hamas-led militants</a>. Trump talked with some of their families at the Knesset.

"Your name will be remembered to generations," a woman told him.

Israeli lawmakers chanted Trump's name and gave him standing ovation after standing ovation. Some people in the audience wore red hats that resembled his “Make America Great Again” caps, although these versions said “Trump, The Peace President.”

Netanyahu hailed Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House," and he promised to work with him going forward.

“Mr. President, you are committed to this peace. I am committed to this peace," he said. “And together, Mr. President, we will achieve this peace.”

Trump, in an unexpected detour during his speech, called on the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu, whom he described as “one of the greatest” wartime leaders. Netanyahu faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-corruption-trial-gaza-478c957c7749986d5b8b2d039f670d54">corruption charges</a>, although several hearings have been postponed during the conflict with Hamas.

The Republican president also used the opportunity to settle political scores and thank his supporters, criticizing Democratic predecessors and praising a top donor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/miriam-adelson-mark-cuban-dallas-mavericks-las-vegas-6cc268d924dc4083161322753efe5ceb">Miriam Adelson</a>, in the audience.

The moment remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas still in the early stages of implementing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-gaza-talks-kushner-witkoff-israel-hamas-news-10-08-2025-ac80d3ed50ff2a9b4106ab5e13156651">the first phase</a>&nbsp;of Trump's plan.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the final hostages held by Hamas; the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-updates-10-9-2025#00000199-c89b-d8db-af9f-e8bfdea40000">hundreds of Palestinian prisoners</a>&nbsp;held by Israel; a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial pullback by Israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities.

Trump has said there's a window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

“The war is over, OK?” Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One.

“I think people are tired of it,” he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that.

He said the chance of peace was enabled by his Republican administration’s support of Israel’s decimation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The White House said momentum is also building because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gaza-war-ceasefire-israel-hamas-819c9999cc4f3157c729fdc5a02f4df5">Arab and Muslim states</a>&nbsp;are demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United States.

In February, Trump had predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3">“the Riviera of the Middle East.”</a>&nbsp;But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he was more circumspect.

“I don’t know about the Riviera for a while,” Trump said. “It’s blasted. This is like a demolition site.” But he said he hoped to one day visit the territory. “I’d like to put my feet on it, at least,” he said.

The sides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">have not agreed</a>&nbsp;on Gaza’s postwar governance, the territory’s reconstruction and Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">Negotiations over those issues</a>&nbsp;could break down, and Israel has hinted it may resume military operations if its demands are not met.

<a href="https://apnews.com/video/before-and-after-videos-show-much-of-gaza-reduced-to-ruins-by-israeli-bombardment-and-offensive-097ebc3b1683486fbea2c4586194b8b3">Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble</a>, and the territory’s roughly 2 million residents continue to struggle in desperate conditions. Under the deal, Israel agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of food and other supplies into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.

Roughly 200 U.S. troops will help support and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-gaza-israel-hamas-us-military-c19caf7b193dbb3bfaf056366f9e2369">monitor the ceasefire deal</a>&nbsp;as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private-sector players.

Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760374235793.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called for a new era of harmony in the Middle East on Monday during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-egypt-gaza-war-bb2d95ea815ef6a4a2771c46b73f1e11">a global summit on Gaza's future</a>, trying to advance broader peace in the region after visiting Israel to celebrate a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas.“We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us," Trump said, and he urged leaders “to declare that our future will not be ruled by the fights of generations past.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> stands at the center alongside dozens of his fellow world leaders — all coming together for today&#39;s unprecedented international Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt 🕊️ <a href="https://t.co/w2J4esyYcI">pic.twitter.com/w2J4esyYcI</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1977768075954176492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump is the Peace President. <a href="https://t.co/QMJbh0L1oE">https://t.co/QMJbh0L1oE</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1977783829122232455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> stands at the center alongside dozens of his fellow world leaders — all coming together for today&#39;s unprecedented international Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt 🕊️ <a href="https://t.co/w2J4esyYcI">pic.twitter.com/w2J4esyYcI</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1977768075954176492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Welcome billboards all around Sharm El-Sheikh 🇺🇸🇪🇬 <a href="https://t.co/39ISvVLuA7">pic.twitter.com/39ISvVLuA7</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1977794848288575989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST <a href="https://t.co/hf7tBaoMNY">pic.twitter.com/hf7tBaoMNY</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1977760167530803685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">THE PEACE PRESIDENT! <a href="https://t.co/w48BJVq9x9">pic.twitter.com/w48BJVq9x9</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1977763074640662572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> joins the leaders of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in an official signing ceremony for the historic Gaza Peace Deal <a href="https://t.co/mqonzJNyP1">pic.twitter.com/mqonzJNyP1</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1977775145314861393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Everyone wants a photo with the Leader of the Free World — THE PRESIDENT OF PEACE! <a href="https://t.co/1SHKLvdL6u">pic.twitter.com/1SHKLvdL6u</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1977777422465716723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> joins the leaders of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in an official signing ceremony for the historic Gaza Peace Deal <a href="https://t.co/mqonzJNyP1">pic.twitter.com/mqonzJNyP1</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1977775145314861393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The whirlwind trip, which included the summit in Egypt and a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem earlier in the day, comes at a fragile moment of hope for ending two years of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war between Israel and Hamas</a>.“Everybody said it's not possible to do. And it's going to happen. And it is happening before your very eyes," Trump said alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.Nearly three dozen countries, including some from Europe and the Middle East, were represented at the summit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited but declined, with his office saying it was too close to a Jewish holiday.Trump, el-Sissi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a document that Trump said would lay the groundwork for Gaza's future. However, a copy was not made public.Despite unanswered questions about next steps in the Palestinian enclave, which has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-drone-footage-destruction-ceasefire-4a03097279002889573791ecd0112df8">devastated during the conflict</a>, Trump is determined to seize an opportunity to chase an elusive regional harmony.He expressed a similar sense of finality about the Israel-Hamas war in his speech at the Knesset, which welcomed him as a hero.“You’ve won,” he told Israeli lawmakers. “Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”Trump promised to help rebuild Gaza, and he urged Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence.”“After tremendous pain and death and hardship," he said, "now is the time to concentrate on building their people up instead of trying to tear Israel down.”Trump even made a gesture to Iran, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fordo-us-strike-trump-israel-nuclear-sites-320a85327f94ed7496f09564261f3148">he bombed three nuclear sites</a>&nbsp;during the country's brief war with Israel earlier this year, by saying “the hand of friendship and cooperation is always open.”<h2>Trump's whirlwind trip</h2>Trump arrived in Egypt hours late because speeches at the Knesset continued longer than expected."They might not be there by the time I get there, but we’ll give it a shot," Trump joked after needling Israeli leaders for talking so much.Twenty hostages were released Monday as part of an agreement intended to end the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-hostages-2-years-10-07-2025-6f19cb2eee5e05091c74f0e6f1bc356a">an attack by Hamas-led militants</a>. Trump talked with some of their families at the Knesset."Your name will be remembered to generations," a woman told him.Israeli lawmakers chanted Trump's name and gave him standing ovation after standing ovation. Some people in the audience wore red hats that resembled his “Make America Great Again” caps, although these versions said “Trump, The Peace President.”Netanyahu hailed Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House," and he promised to work with him going forward.“Mr. President, you are committed to this peace. I am committed to this peace," he said. “And together, Mr. President, we will achieve this peace.”Trump, in an unexpected detour during his speech, called on the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu, whom he described as “one of the greatest” wartime leaders. Netanyahu faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-corruption-trial-gaza-478c957c7749986d5b8b2d039f670d54">corruption charges</a>, although several hearings have been postponed during the conflict with Hamas.The Republican president also used the opportunity to settle political scores and thank his supporters, criticizing Democratic predecessors and praising a top donor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/miriam-adelson-mark-cuban-dallas-mavericks-las-vegas-6cc268d924dc4083161322753efe5ceb">Miriam Adelson</a>, in the audience.<h2>Trump pushes to reshape the region</h2>The moment remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas still in the early stages of implementing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-gaza-talks-kushner-witkoff-israel-hamas-news-10-08-2025-ac80d3ed50ff2a9b4106ab5e13156651">the first phase</a>&nbsp;of Trump's plan.The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the final hostages held by Hamas; the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-updates-10-9-2025#00000199-c89b-d8db-af9f-e8bfdea40000">hundreds of Palestinian prisoners</a>&nbsp;held by Israel; a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial pullback by Israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities.Trump has said there's a window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.“The war is over, OK?” Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One.“I think people are tired of it,” he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that.He said the chance of peace was enabled by his Republican administration’s support of Israel’s decimation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.The White House said momentum is also building because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gaza-war-ceasefire-israel-hamas-819c9999cc4f3157c729fdc5a02f4df5">Arab and Muslim states</a>&nbsp;are demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United States.In February, Trump had predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3">“the Riviera of the Middle East.”</a>&nbsp;But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he was more circumspect.“I don’t know about the Riviera for a while,” Trump said. “It’s blasted. This is like a demolition site.” But he said he hoped to one day visit the territory. “I’d like to put my feet on it, at least,” he said.The sides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">have not agreed</a>&nbsp;on Gaza’s postwar governance, the territory’s reconstruction and Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">Negotiations over those issues</a>&nbsp;could break down, and Israel has hinted it may resume military operations if its demands are not met.<a href="https://apnews.com/video/before-and-after-videos-show-much-of-gaza-reduced-to-ruins-by-israeli-bombardment-and-offensive-097ebc3b1683486fbea2c4586194b8b3">Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble</a>, and the territory’s roughly 2 million residents continue to struggle in desperate conditions. Under the deal, Israel agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of food and other supplies into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.Roughly 200 U.S. troops will help support and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-gaza-israel-hamas-us-military-c19caf7b193dbb3bfaf056366f9e2369">monitor the ceasefire deal</a>&nbsp;as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private-sector players.___Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.___

🎥Trump calls for a new era of harmony in the Middle East

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department continues asking for the community’s help in identifying and locating the woman in this video. She was last seen being taken by force on October 12, 2025, at approximately 2 AM., in the 1400 block of North Volutsia.&nbsp;

Police worked throughout Monday on this investigation, following up on numerous leads, and appreciate the public's help. 

At this time, police have not been able to identify the woman and man seen in the video. Exploring all options, police reached out to regional and federal law enforcement partners for additional assistance.

The Wichita Police team has processed the audio, reducing background noise, hoping that someone will recognize her voice. Please take a moment to review the video.

&nbsp;If you recognize her or have any information about her identity or whereabouts, please contact 911 immediately.

You may also reach out to WPD Investigations at 316-268-4407, or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department continues asking for the community’s help in identifying and locating the woman in this video. She was last seen being taken by force on October 12, 2025, at approximately 2 AM., in the 1400 block of North Volutsia.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">We’ve worked throughout the day on this investigation, following up on numerous leads, and we appreciate the public&#39;s help. At this time, we have not been able to identify the female and male seen in the video. Exploring all options, we&#39;ve reached out to our regional and… <a href="https://t.co/APj14eTdRI">pic.twitter.com/APj14eTdRI</a>&mdash; Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaPolice/status/1977848955233869931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Police worked throughout Monday on this investigation, following up on numerous leads, and appreciate the public's help. At this time, police have not been able to identify the woman and man seen in the video. Exploring all options, police reached out to regional and federal law enforcement partners for additional assistance.The Wichita Police team has processed the audio, reducing background noise, hoping that someone will recognize her voice. Please take a moment to review the video.&nbsp;If you recognize her or have any information about her identity or whereabouts, please contact 911 immediately.

You may also reach out to WPD Investigations at 316-268-4407, or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

🎥Police: Search continues for woman allegedly taken by force

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) today announced the successful closure of a wildlife poaching case involving the illegal harvest of a trophy deer in Kansas, according to the KDWP. The investigation, led by KDWP Game Wardens, concluded with a guilty plea from a Tennessee man who admitted to unlawfully taking the deer.

While investigating&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-ks%2Fpr%2Fhunting-show-host-receives-lifetime-hunting-ban-kansas/1/01010199dec03fdf-e9455897-83a5-461b-a66d-17bf4c81807a-000000/Bwdvb9fZzYEQA2sH8GGlrlQ2Zvi-G3H1mBWKQS_cqog=426">an unrelated poaching case</a>&nbsp;in early 2024, Kansas Game Wardens learned&nbsp;that a trophy deer had been killed in Miami County, Kansas before being later tagged in Missouri.

Following this discovery, Game Wardens obtained a warrant for the suspect’s phone records, which confirmed his presence in Kansas during the timeframe of the photo. In late summer 2024, Kansas Game Wardens traveled to the Nashville area, where they seized the deer and later received a phone confession from the individual, who admitted to killing the deer in Kansas with a rifle and without a valid permit.

The suspect was prosecuted in Miami County, Kansas, and recently pled guilty to charges related to the illegal take. He was fined $5,000 and must also pay $3,960.50 in restitution and $108 in court costs.

KDWP’s Special Investigations Unit led the case, with support from the Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The successful resolution underscores the department’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting wildlife crimes, including complex cases that may span multiple jurisdictions and take years to conclude.

“Kansas Game Wardens are dedicated to protecting our state’s wildlife resources,” said Colonel Greg Kyser. “Most hunters respect the law and play a vital role in conservation. Unfortunately, bad actors undermine that trust and make it harder for everyone. This case demonstrates the persistence and professionalism of our officers, who work tirelessly to hold violators accountable and uphold the integrity of our hunting laws.”

KDWP enforces state and federal fish and wildlife regulations, boating laws, and public land rules across both private and public lands. Game Wardens also support emergency response efforts and collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Through education and outreach, KDWP promotes safe, ethical outdoor recreation and works to preserve Kansas’s natural heritage for future generations.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) today announced the successful closure of a wildlife poaching case involving the illegal harvest of a trophy deer in Kansas, according to the KDWP. The investigation, led by KDWP Game Wardens, concluded with a guilty plea from a Tennessee man who admitted to unlawfully taking the deer.While investigating&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-ks%2Fpr%2Fhunting-show-host-receives-lifetime-hunting-ban-kansas/1/01010199dec03fdf-e9455897-83a5-461b-a66d-17bf4c81807a-000000/Bwdvb9fZzYEQA2sH8GGlrlQ2Zvi-G3H1mBWKQS_cqog=426">an unrelated poaching case</a>&nbsp;in early 2024, Kansas Game Wardens learned&nbsp;that a trophy deer had been killed in Miami County, Kansas before being later tagged in Missouri.Following this discovery, Game Wardens obtained a warrant for the suspect’s phone records, which confirmed his presence in Kansas during the timeframe of the photo. In late summer 2024, Kansas Game Wardens traveled to the Nashville area, where they seized the deer and later received a phone confession from the individual, who admitted to killing the deer in Kansas with a rifle and without a valid permit.The suspect was prosecuted in Miami County, Kansas, and recently pled guilty to charges related to the illegal take. He was fined $5,000 and must also pay $3,960.50 in restitution and $108 in court costs.KDWP’s Special Investigations Unit led the case, with support from the Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The successful resolution underscores the department’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting wildlife crimes, including complex cases that may span multiple jurisdictions and take years to conclude.“Kansas Game Wardens are dedicated to protecting our state’s wildlife resources,” said Colonel Greg Kyser. “Most hunters respect the law and play a vital role in conservation. Unfortunately, bad actors undermine that trust and make it harder for everyone. This case demonstrates the persistence and professionalism of our officers, who work tirelessly to hold violators accountable and uphold the integrity of our hunting laws.”KDWP enforces state and federal fish and wildlife regulations, boating laws, and public land rules across both private and public lands. Game Wardens also support emergency response efforts and collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Through education and outreach, KDWP promotes safe, ethical outdoor recreation and works to preserve Kansas’s natural heritage for future generations.

Kan. game wardens close investigation into trophy deer poaching case

NEW YORK (AP) — And back up goes Wall Street. U.S. stocks rallied Monday after President Donald Trump said ”&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115362196088273474">it will all be fine</a>,” just days after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-ai-f2c8bcc1f46043ab504cf4b0281e3401">sent the market reeling</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-cc47e258cfc6336dfddcc20fa67a3642">threatening much higher tariffs on China</a>.

The S&amp;P 500 jumped 1.6% in its best day since May and recovered just over half its drop from Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587 points, or 1.3%, and the Nasdaq composite leaped 2.2%.

“Don’t worry about China,” Trump said on his social media platform Sunday. He also said that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, “doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!!”

It was a sharp turnaround from the anger Trump displayed on Friday, when the S&amp;P 500 tumbled to its worst drop since April after he accused China of “&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115351840469973590">a moral disgrace</a>&nbsp;in dealing with other Nations.”

Trump pointed to “an extremely hostile letter” from China describing curbs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-earths-exports-trump-dad99d532f858f04d750d0b8c50e5ed6">exports of rare earths</a>, which are materials used in the manufacturing of everything from personal electronics to jet engines. Trump said at the time that he may place an additional 100% tax on imports from China starting on Nov. 1.

For its part,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-trump-tariff-threat-trade-talks-cc4bd30c3b1bcf2eb2676bc0e66efba0">China urged the United States</a>&nbsp;to resolve differences through negotiations instead of threats. “We do not want a tariff war but we are not afraid of one,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement posted online.

Hours later, Trump posted his less confrontational talk about China on Truth Social. The backtrack in anger, which also came before trading began on Wall Street, raised hopes that the world’s two largest economies could find a way to allow global trade to continue smoothly.

The down-and-up moves for the market echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bear-market-stocks-market-tariffs-trump-sp-500-c5d106a80666c0ff4f0e71624d525158">its manic swings</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-721a3a5971f1b254981d32f4acb9eb17">April</a>. That’s when Trump shocked investors with his “Liberation Day” announcement of worldwide tariffs, only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">eventually relent on many</a>&nbsp;to give time to negotiate trade deals with other countries.

If this time ends up similarly, potentially even after a sharp drop for stock prices, subsiding trade tensions and uncertainty could allow for a rolling recovery to continue into 2026, according to Morgan Stanley strategists led by Michael Wilson.

To be sure, the U.S. stock market may have been primed for a drop. It was already facing criticism that prices had shot too high following a torrid 35% run for the S&amp;P 500 from a low in April. The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-gold-ai-yen-3b5d8a978d326c59cbf484a14868ce66">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set last week.

Not only did Trump’s backdown from tariffs help stocks soar since April, so did expectations for several cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve to help the economy.

Critics say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-records-shutdown-earnings-ai-251fefd075ac658ce498c9d1953efc70">the market looks too expensive</a>&nbsp;now after prices rose much faster than corporate profits. Worries are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry</a>, where pessimists hear echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded.

Broadcom jumped 9.9% for one of Monday’s biggest gains in the S&amp;P 500 after announcing a collaboration with OpenAI. Broadcom will help develop and deploy custom AI accelerators that the maker of ChatGPT will design.

For stocks broadly to look less expensive, either prices need to fall, or companies’ profits need to rise.

That’s raising the stakes for the upcoming earnings reporting season, with big U.S. companies lined up to say how much profit they made during the summer. JPMorgan Chase, Johnson &amp; Johnson and United Airlines are some of the big names on the calendar this coming week.

Fastenal tumbled 7.5% for the largest loss in the S&amp;P 500 after the maker of fasteners and safety supplies reported a profit for the latest quarter that was slightly weaker than analysts expected.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 102.21 points to 6,654.72. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587.98 to 46,067.68, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 490.18 to 22,694.61.

At Bank of America, strategist Savita Subramanian is optimistic that S&amp;P 500 companies can deliver a bigger overall profit than analysts expected. Besides reports showing a resilient U.S. economy, she also pointed in a BofA Global Research report to how the U.S. dollar’s weakening against other currencies boosts the value of big U.S. companies’ sales made overseas.

In stock markets abroad, indexes edged higher in Europe following losses in Asia, which had their first opportunity to react to Trump’s threat from Friday of additional tariffs on China.

Stocks fell 1.5% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trade-trump-tariffs-exports-4d65b77167ed9193244942923f0eef8d">China reported</a>&nbsp;its global exports rose 8.3% in September from a year earlier, the strongest growth in six months and further evidence that its manufacturers are shifting sales from the United States to other markets.

NEW YORK (AP) — And back up goes Wall Street. U.S. stocks rallied Monday after President Donald Trump said ”&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115362196088273474">it will all be fine</a>,” just days after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-ai-f2c8bcc1f46043ab504cf4b0281e3401">sent the market reeling</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-cc47e258cfc6336dfddcc20fa67a3642">threatening much higher tariffs on China</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760386599438.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The S&amp;P 500 jumped 1.6% in its best day since May and recovered just over half its drop from Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587 points, or 1.3%, and the Nasdaq composite leaped 2.2%.“Don’t worry about China,” Trump said on his social media platform Sunday. He also said that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, “doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!!”It was a sharp turnaround from the anger Trump displayed on Friday, when the S&amp;P 500 tumbled to its worst drop since April after he accused China of “&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115351840469973590">a moral disgrace</a>&nbsp;in dealing with other Nations.”Trump pointed to “an extremely hostile letter” from China describing curbs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-earths-exports-trump-dad99d532f858f04d750d0b8c50e5ed6">exports of rare earths</a>, which are materials used in the manufacturing of everything from personal electronics to jet engines. Trump said at the time that he may place an additional 100% tax on imports from China starting on Nov. 1.For its part,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-trump-tariff-threat-trade-talks-cc4bd30c3b1bcf2eb2676bc0e66efba0">China urged the United States</a>&nbsp;to resolve differences through negotiations instead of threats. “We do not want a tariff war but we are not afraid of one,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement posted online.Hours later, Trump posted his less confrontational talk about China on Truth Social. The backtrack in anger, which also came before trading began on Wall Street, raised hopes that the world’s two largest economies could find a way to allow global trade to continue smoothly.The down-and-up moves for the market echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bear-market-stocks-market-tariffs-trump-sp-500-c5d106a80666c0ff4f0e71624d525158">its manic swings</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-721a3a5971f1b254981d32f4acb9eb17">April</a>. That’s when Trump shocked investors with his “Liberation Day” announcement of worldwide tariffs, only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">eventually relent on many</a>&nbsp;to give time to negotiate trade deals with other countries.If this time ends up similarly, potentially even after a sharp drop for stock prices, subsiding trade tensions and uncertainty could allow for a rolling recovery to continue into 2026, according to Morgan Stanley strategists led by Michael Wilson.To be sure, the U.S. stock market may have been primed for a drop. It was already facing criticism that prices had shot too high following a torrid 35% run for the S&amp;P 500 from a low in April. The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-gold-ai-yen-3b5d8a978d326c59cbf484a14868ce66">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set last week.Not only did Trump’s backdown from tariffs help stocks soar since April, so did expectations for several cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve to help the economy.Critics say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-records-shutdown-earnings-ai-251fefd075ac658ce498c9d1953efc70">the market looks too expensive</a>&nbsp;now after prices rose much faster than corporate profits. Worries are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry</a>, where pessimists hear echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded.Broadcom jumped 9.9% for one of Monday’s biggest gains in the S&amp;P 500 after announcing a collaboration with OpenAI. Broadcom will help develop and deploy custom AI accelerators that the maker of ChatGPT will design.For stocks broadly to look less expensive, either prices need to fall, or companies’ profits need to rise.That’s raising the stakes for the upcoming earnings reporting season, with big U.S. companies lined up to say how much profit they made during the summer. JPMorgan Chase, Johnson &amp; Johnson and United Airlines are some of the big names on the calendar this coming week.Fastenal tumbled 7.5% for the largest loss in the S&amp;P 500 after the maker of fasteners and safety supplies reported a profit for the latest quarter that was slightly weaker than analysts expected.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 102.21 points to 6,654.72. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587.98 to 46,067.68, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 490.18 to 22,694.61.At Bank of America, strategist Savita Subramanian is optimistic that S&amp;P 500 companies can deliver a bigger overall profit than analysts expected. Besides reports showing a resilient U.S. economy, she also pointed in a BofA Global Research report to how the U.S. dollar’s weakening against other currencies boosts the value of big U.S. companies’ sales made overseas.In stock markets abroad, indexes edged higher in Europe following losses in Asia, which had their first opportunity to react to Trump’s threat from Friday of additional tariffs on China.Stocks fell 1.5% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trade-trump-tariffs-exports-4d65b77167ed9193244942923f0eef8d">China reported</a>&nbsp;its global exports rose 8.3% in September from a year earlier, the strongest growth in six months and further evidence that its manufacturers are shifting sales from the United States to other markets.

Wall Street back up big after Trump softens his criticism of China

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/maria-sherman">MARIA SHERMAN</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — That’s show business for you!&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s</a>&nbsp;12th studio album,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-life-showgirl-music-review-d2681b9f07592d96f336ef7e8438ef74">“The Life of a Showgirl,”</a>&nbsp;has officially sold 4.002 million equivalent album units — which includes album sales and streaming activity — in its first week in the U.S. That is the biggest first week in modern music history; at least, according to Luminate, the industry data and analytics company that began tracking sales in 1991.

Swift broke the record set by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faeee2b6622b4205b5acd6f8fc67b393">Adele’s “25,”</a>&nbsp;which sold 3.378 million copies in its first week in 2015 in the U.S.

“The Life of a Showgirl” was released Oct. 3. In its first week, pure album sales totaled 3,479,500 copies.

She’s also become the solo artist with the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, with 15. She was previously tied with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/drake">Drake</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jay-z">Jay-Z,</a>&nbsp;who each have 14.

Swift is now just behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-beatles">The Beatles,</a>&nbsp;who boast of 19 No. 1 albums.

She is no stranger to breaking records, and when it comes to “The Life of a Showgirl,” the history-making started immediately. In its first day of release, the album sold 2.7 million copies in traditional album sales, breaking her record for most first week sales...&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-life-of-a-showgirl-sales-ccbff586e3ac2e59ef1ce6708fb53917">in one day.</a>

Her last album, 2024’s “The Tortured Poets Department,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-chart-59cf23c8056e05768b41a0594be984cc">amassed 2.61 million</a>&nbsp;equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week.

Also, according to Luminate, “The Life of a Showgirl” broke the record for the most copies of a vinyl album sold in a single week in the U.S., with 1.2 million copies in its first day.

The previous record holder was “The Tortured Poets Department,” which sold 859,000 copies on vinyl in its first week.

One of the reasons Swift has seen so much success is that she released her record in several different variants. Those include multiple editions specific to Target — three CDs titled “It’s Frightening,” “It’s Rapturous” and “It’s Beautiful,” as well as an exclusive vinyl release, “The Crowd Is Your King.”

There are a number of other vinyl variants as well: “The Tiny Bubble in Champagne Collection,” “The Baby That’s Show Business Collection,” “The Shiny Bug Collection,” and the standard LP and cassette, in “sweat and vanilla perfume&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-life-showgirl-orange-color-0a7e40dd51b4aae99ca1a67fbb5e7f89">Portofino orange vinyl.”</a>

New Disney+ projects will keep Swift at the top

The news of Swift’s record-breaking sales arrived just after “Good Morning America” revealed Monday that she’ll have two new projects at Disney+. That’s a six-episode, behind-the-scenes docuseries about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-numbers-2-billion-118a7f5ea4609c5d3072a29152e387bb">her landmark “Eras Tour”</a>&nbsp;titled “Taylor Swift ' The Eras Tour ' The End of an Era.”

The first two episodes of her docuseries will premiere Dec. 12.

And that is not to be confused with the second, titled “Taylor Swift ' The Eras Tour ' The Final Show,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-movie-review-2f409c638d2a9ea827f72c61b6b0d60a">a concert film</a>&nbsp;now with the inclusion of “The Tortured Poets Department” section. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-eras-tour-293d90acd670d6d19c294a0e6085829a">2024 album was incorporated</a>&nbsp;into her three-and-a-half-hour performance following its release. It was filmed in Vancouver.

That differs from 2023’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-concert-films-a284a04596c6b71b3de7a9bcf9c83b7b">“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” film</a>, which was compiled from several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-611d9cc54aed258fc7d9e071e97868aa">Swift shows at SoFi Stadium</a>&nbsp;in Inglewood, a suburb of Los Angeles and arrived ahead of “The Tortured Poets Department.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759489518121.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/maria-sherman">MARIA SHERMAN</a>NEW YORK (AP) — That’s show business for you!&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s</a>&nbsp;12th studio album,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-life-showgirl-music-review-d2681b9f07592d96f336ef7e8438ef74">“The Life of a Showgirl,”</a>&nbsp;has officially sold 4.002 million equivalent album units — which includes album sales and streaming activity — in its first week in the U.S. That is the biggest first week in modern music history; at least, according to Luminate, the industry data and analytics company that began tracking sales in 1991.Swift broke the record set by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faeee2b6622b4205b5acd6f8fc67b393">Adele’s “25,”</a>&nbsp;which sold 3.378 million copies in its first week in 2015 in the U.S.“The Life of a Showgirl” was released Oct. 3. In its first week, pure album sales totaled 3,479,500 copies.She’s also become the solo artist with the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, with 15. She was previously tied with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/drake">Drake</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jay-z">Jay-Z,</a>&nbsp;who each have 14.Swift is now just behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-beatles">The Beatles,</a>&nbsp;who boast of 19 No. 1 albums.She is no stranger to breaking records, and when it comes to “The Life of a Showgirl,” the history-making started immediately. In its first day of release, the album sold 2.7 million copies in traditional album sales, breaking her record for most first week sales...&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-life-of-a-showgirl-sales-ccbff586e3ac2e59ef1ce6708fb53917">in one day.</a>Her last album, 2024’s “The Tortured Poets Department,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-chart-59cf23c8056e05768b41a0594be984cc">amassed 2.61 million</a>&nbsp;equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week.Also, according to Luminate, “The Life of a Showgirl” broke the record for the most copies of a vinyl album sold in a single week in the U.S., with 1.2 million copies in its first day.The previous record holder was “The Tortured Poets Department,” which sold 859,000 copies on vinyl in its first week.<h2>Vinyl variants move the needle</h2>One of the reasons Swift has seen so much success is that she released her record in several different variants. Those include multiple editions specific to Target — three CDs titled “It’s Frightening,” “It’s Rapturous” and “It’s Beautiful,” as well as an exclusive vinyl release, “The Crowd Is Your King.”There are a number of other vinyl variants as well: “The Tiny Bubble in Champagne Collection,” “The Baby That’s Show Business Collection,” “The Shiny Bug Collection,” and the standard LP and cassette, in “sweat and vanilla perfume&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-life-showgirl-orange-color-0a7e40dd51b4aae99ca1a67fbb5e7f89">Portofino orange vinyl.”</a><h2>New Disney+ projects will keep Swift at the top</h2>The news of Swift’s record-breaking sales arrived just after “Good Morning America” revealed Monday that she’ll have two new projects at Disney+. That’s a six-episode, behind-the-scenes docuseries about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-numbers-2-billion-118a7f5ea4609c5d3072a29152e387bb">her landmark “Eras Tour”</a>&nbsp;titled “Taylor Swift ' The Eras Tour ' The End of an Era.”The first two episodes of her docuseries will premiere Dec. 12.And that is not to be confused with the second, titled “Taylor Swift ' The Eras Tour ' The Final Show,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-movie-review-2f409c638d2a9ea827f72c61b6b0d60a">a concert film</a>&nbsp;now with the inclusion of “The Tortured Poets Department” section. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-eras-tour-293d90acd670d6d19c294a0e6085829a">2024 album was incorporated</a>&nbsp;into her three-and-a-half-hour performance following its release. It was filmed in Vancouver.That differs from 2023’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-concert-films-a284a04596c6b71b3de7a9bcf9c83b7b">“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” film</a>, which was compiled from several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-611d9cc54aed258fc7d9e071e97868aa">Swift shows at SoFi Stadium</a>&nbsp;in Inglewood, a suburb of Los Angeles and arrived ahead of “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Taylor Swift's ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ makes more history

By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new round of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">layoffs</a>&nbsp;at the Education Department is depleting an agency that was hit hard in the Trump administration’s previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-layoffs-job-cuts-linda-mcmahon-ce9f6a8a63972aede0d8fbdf057ab788">mass firings</a>, threatening new disruption to the nation’s students and schools in areas from special education to civil rights enforcement and after-school programs.

The Trump administration started laying off 466 Education Department staffers on Friday amid mass firings across the government meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">federal shutdown</a>. The layoffs would cut the agency’s workforce by nearly a fifth and leave it reduced by more than half its size when President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.

The cuts play into Trump’s broader plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-shutdown-b1d25a2e1bdcd24cfde8ad8b655b9843">shut down the Education Department</a>&nbsp;and parcel its operations to other agencies. Over the summer, the department started handing off its adult education and workforce programs to the Department of Labor, and it previously said it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-scotus-layoffs-student-loans-f24637f2a1d57432f6dc24d082e95b9b">negotiating an agreement</a>&nbsp;to pass its $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department.

Department officials have not released details on the layoffs and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AFGE Local 252, a union that represents more than 2,700 department workers, said information from employees indicates cuts will decimate several offices within the agency.

All workers except a small number of top officials are being fired at the office that implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities get support from their schools, the union said. Unknown numbers are being fired at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-civil-rights-disability-54c4b4a228b4b30e6a6751ec745b3915">Office for Civil Rights</a>, which investigates complaints of discrimination at the nation's schools and universities.

The layoffs would eliminate or heavily deplete teams that oversee the flow of grant funding to schools across the nation, the union said. It hits the office that oversees Title I funding for the country’s low-income schools along with the team that manages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-grants-after-school-summer-211451212c377321fad4c751da3eb9df">21st Century Community Learning Centers</a>, the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learning programs.

It will also hit an office that oversees TRIO, a set of programs that help low-income students pursue college, and another that oversees federal funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

In a statement, union president Rachel Gittleman said the new reductions, on top of previous layoffs, will “double down on the harm to K-12 students, students with disabilities, first generation college students, low-income students, teachers and local education boards.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741729690736.png" alt="U.S. Dept. of Education- photo AP" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Dept. of Education- photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education WriterWASHINGTON (AP) — A new round of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">layoffs</a>&nbsp;at the Education Department is depleting an agency that was hit hard in the Trump administration’s previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-layoffs-job-cuts-linda-mcmahon-ce9f6a8a63972aede0d8fbdf057ab788">mass firings</a>, threatening new disruption to the nation’s students and schools in areas from special education to civil rights enforcement and after-school programs.The Trump administration started laying off 466 Education Department staffers on Friday amid mass firings across the government meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">federal shutdown</a>. The layoffs would cut the agency’s workforce by nearly a fifth and leave it reduced by more than half its size when President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.The cuts play into Trump’s broader plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-shutdown-b1d25a2e1bdcd24cfde8ad8b655b9843">shut down the Education Department</a>&nbsp;and parcel its operations to other agencies. Over the summer, the department started handing off its adult education and workforce programs to the Department of Labor, and it previously said it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-scotus-layoffs-student-loans-f24637f2a1d57432f6dc24d082e95b9b">negotiating an agreement</a>&nbsp;to pass its $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department.Department officials have not released details on the layoffs and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AFGE Local 252, a union that represents more than 2,700 department workers, said information from employees indicates cuts will decimate several offices within the agency.All workers except a small number of top officials are being fired at the office that implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities get support from their schools, the union said. Unknown numbers are being fired at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-civil-rights-disability-54c4b4a228b4b30e6a6751ec745b3915">Office for Civil Rights</a>, which investigates complaints of discrimination at the nation's schools and universities.The layoffs would eliminate or heavily deplete teams that oversee the flow of grant funding to schools across the nation, the union said. It hits the office that oversees Title I funding for the country’s low-income schools along with the team that manages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-grants-after-school-summer-211451212c377321fad4c751da3eb9df">21st Century Community Learning Centers</a>, the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learning programs.It will also hit an office that oversees TRIO, a set of programs that help low-income students pursue college, and another that oversees federal funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.In a statement, union president Rachel Gittleman said the new reductions, on top of previous layoffs, will “double down on the harm to K-12 students, students with disabilities, first generation college students, low-income students, teachers and local education boards.”The Education Department had about 4,100 employees when Trump took office. After the new layoffs, it would be down to fewer than 2,000. Earlier layoffs in March had roughly halved the department, but some employees were hired back after officials decided they had cut too deep.The new layoffs drew condemnation from a range of education organizations.Although states design their own competitions to distribute federal funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the small team of federal officials provided guidance and support “that is absolutely essential,” said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance.“Firing that team is shocking, devastating, utterly without any basis, and it threatens to cause lasting harm,” Grant said in a statement.The government’s latest layoffs are being challenged in court by the American Federation of Government Employees and other national labor unions. Their suit, filed in San Francisco, said the government’s budgeting and personnel offices overstepped their authority by ordering agencies to carry out layoffs in response to the shutdown.In a court filing, the Trump administration said the executive branch has wide discretion to reduce the federal workforce. It said the unions could not prove they were harmed by the layoffs because employees would not actually be separated for another 30 to 60 days after receiving notice.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.